Whitechapel (Victorian London's District of Wickedness)

Whitechapel was home to all the horrors of late Victorian London, hovels of the poor and working class and a den of crime and all kinds of wickedness. The streets were as dark and dirty as the fetid air between them, for amongst the overcrowded hovels could be found numerous industries where the poor worked long hours and, if not here, the Docklands nearby, employed thousands. Destitute immigrants found accommodation and jobs in the factories and wharfs and so Whitechapel became synonymous with the working class.

Today, you will hear a description of Whitechapel, its living conditions and its inhabitants written in 1861. This genuine report of life in the East End really does make you wonder how people survived a hard life and endless suffering – a situation our author called a 'national disgrace.'

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Check out Victorian documentaries (Playlist):

CC BY - Child welfare Ragged School Whitechapel 19thC, Wentworth Street Whitechapel by Wellcome Collection
CC BY-SA - Bedroom 1860s House by James Petts; Historical figure of Jack the Ripper by artisthistorian George S. Stuart and photographed by Peter d'Aprix
Map Data Copyright OpenStreetMap contributors

#VictorianWhitechapel #WhitechapelLondon #VictorianLondon #VictorianDocumentary #VictorianLondonDocumentary #VictorianEraDocumentary #VictorianLife #VictorianSlums #19thCentury #HistoryDocumentary #FactFeast

[FactFeast]

Enjoy this content? Please like, and share it out wherever you can 📲 It really is a big help to grow audience. Thank you 👍

[DenWell-SeedsOfChaos]

This was almost unimaginable, but there were pictures and the horror can *not* be denied. The image of the little boy sitting on the stair, so tired, hungry and distraught, head in his lap, was heart-wrenching.

[MichelleFaithLove]

Minute 17:08-17:50 is heartbreaking to me as a Mother. I could feel the desperation looking at the lifeless child’s body being held by their mother on a street corner. I appreciate your channel so much. The illustrations, photographs and your narration just makes one feel like they are a part of this history. Imagine the air surrounding everything, as this is something we can not share looking back. 😔

[DR-hcvz]

Love this channel. Picked up a copy of Nicholas Nickleby looking for a good long book to read on a cross US flight from michigan to washington. Been hooked on dickens, and further Victorian and similar times readings since. Thanks for all you do to preserve this period of history. See you next week!

[johnbruce]

Another not to be missed introduction to remarkable sources of social history. After listening to this account I've been inspired to chase up a copy of John Hollingshead's 'Ragged London in 1861'. However, the simple reading of it will not match the quality of your narration which really does engage the senses in bring the account to life. A most engaging and challenging education. Thank you, very much.

[Eric-the-Bold]

1861, my ancestor James Rouse b1818 lived at 34, Lambert Street with his wife b1810 and seventeen others, ie four families at the address. He was working as a street Hawker selling crockery. His wife showing no occupation. Their children had long gone. Things had not improved, other ancestors husband and wife, both b1833 were admitted into the workhouse in 1901.

[HyenaOnTheRoad]

This is such a good, entertaining, educational channel. You deserve a lot more recognition than you have!

[skippertheeyechild]

Your voicework is getting better and it was already great to begin with!

[toniremer]

Fact Feast -- I'm in absolute love with your channel. The way that you can describe every single detail, we can easily see the poverty, hear the despair in the voices of the poor families, and smell the horrid scents. Not too many authors can do that, but you can do that with ease. You take us on a journey to the periods of time, and we love it. This is what makes you above other channels that upload the same content.
Please keep up the phenomenal work!! Stay safe and aware of your surroundings, take care of yourselves and those around you, and God bless all of you, and your loved ones.

[danniis]

Families starving with no money for food or warmth while Royalty and the 'better sort' who have never known a struggle in their lives judge them for the crime of being poor.

[ahuddleston]

Hey! I'm ready to unwind with my fave YouTuber! I love history and you have made me more obsessed 😍.

[yarrowwitch]

The pattern of rapid appearance and disappearance through closure of shops in Whitechapel is being mirrored nowadays on every High Street in the UK.

[PIERRECLARY]

Another great video!
The book "guignol's band" by the french author Céline describes the pimping smuggling etc of London... though set in 1916, it reflects the same scenery...
I was especially struck by the observation about flowers... in his book Céline describes how a sudden ray of sunlight could suddenly make the meagre window-ledge gardens brighten a whole street... and he recalls (book written during nazi occupation of france) the ragged children who, despite their bare feet and empty stomach would sing and shout and scatter or gather like flocks of sparrows... and he even quotes some of their singsong verses (he was a medical student and probably 1:2 doctor in what i think is the closed hospital in Hackney Road...)

If you have time to spare, i recommend Céline's "guignol's band" and "London Bridge (the part 2 of guignol'x band)

Keep up the great good work!
And maybe you could tell us what happened and how did happen that The Dole suddenly sprouted, and its history (up to the Means Test of the 30's?)
People (like me)
need to know
Thanks for your ceaseless toil!

[graceyoakum]

I could listen to you day and night . You're a historical treasure .

[garthfairfield]

I watch all these videos and wonder how so many suffered so much during such booming years of wealth in the great empire under Victoria. Quite a disgrace

[jayg]

Just found your channel. Subbed immediately. Love this era and these stories.

[jasbo]

This is one of my favourite channels. Excellent work.

[rogersledz]

Thank you so much for uploading this video. It is helping me get through the pandemic!

[TheGreatest]

It seems to have always been the case that the poorer you are, the harder you have to physically work, for the lowest of low wages. It’s still universal today.

[pixidanberty]

And here we are 2022 and still countries have far to many Unbelievable!